Brazil -- July 2009 -- Vale Company, Itabira (Tues)

Group photo at the overlook of the Vale Conceicao
iron mine in Itabira.

Susan, mining engineer trainee for Vale Company, Itabira, Brazil

I really wanted to play with one of these ...

... but this was as close as I got.

This is a 190ton truck. They also have the 250ton version.

Brazil -- July 2009 -- Caraca

Caraca

Hike to the Cascatinha falls. Easy walk less than 1/2 hour.

Not very much water, but still a beautiful setting
and great for climbing rocks

Be careful !!!

No Josh .... DON'T !!!

After Cascatinha, a group tried to find the Bocaina falls -
- but ran out of daylight.

Along the way, there is a great view of "the face"

On the way back, we also stopped at Prainha (little beach)
which was a nice sandy bend on the stream. Lovely place.

Waiting for the wolf....

(It was warm ... heavy coat not needed!)

The first visit was before 8pm, then returned
around 9 for more than 1/2 hour.
Everyone got to see the wolf -- a fantastic show!

Not just one -- but two wolves at once !!

The wolf (Katie in the background)

Meals at Caraca are good. Breakfast is fun
with a big griddle to fix your own speciality.

After breakfast ...
we were off to Itabira and the Vale mines.

Brazil -- July 2009 -- Ouro Preto and Mariana

Ouro Preto!

We left the Rive hotel around 5:30 on a very nice tourist bus.
Arrived in Ouro Preto at 12:30

First had some lunch, then went to Casa dos Contos as a group.
From there to the plaza. Photo is of most of the group.
Then everyone could choose what they wanted to see.
Some went to geology museum, some to Inconfidencia museum,
and many to the Sao Francisco and Conceicao churches
to see the works of Aleijadinho.

Sao Francisco church. Beautiful interior,
especially the ceiling.
Don't miss the fountain by Aleijadinho in the back!
(no photos allowed inside)

Mariana !!

Interior courtyard at the Hotel Providencia in Mariana.

Very nice place to stay for a reasonable price.

Mariana street

Went to the gold mine in Marina on Monday morning
before going on to Caraca.

First trolley loaded for the ride into the mine

The engine that pulls the trolley up the shaft.
It looks like a steam engine, but runs on compressed air.
It is over 115 years old.

Descending into the mine.
You have to watch your head at the entrance.

Venicius with the very clear water in the bottom of the mine

Looking for gold

Ready for the ride to the top

Panning for gold - but no luck (or skill?).
Back to the bus for the trip to Caraca -- still poor.

Brazil -- July 2009 -- Week 2 at Rive

Rive EAFA campus main building. Our classroom is second story
at the left where someone is sitting in the window arch.

Thurs. night was a churascaria by the Gauchos -
held at the hotel patio.
Bruno had the heavy responsibility!
Ana Virginia giving encouragement...

Getting lessons from the master.

Sampling the results. Wonderful !!

Dinner at the Pedra de Pombal Pousada on
regular nights. Good food and plenty of it.
Always rice and beans; generally one or two meats;
pasta, potatoes,and vegetables
(carrots and chayote being the most common).

Sat. morning class at the hotel.

Brazil -- July 2009 -- Sunday Trip to Pico da Bandeira

Early Start.....perhaps too early???

Waiting for the truck to take us into the park

First load!!

Waiting for truck to come back for loads #2 and #3

Load #2 gets to go!

First two loads begin hike

And finally , Load #3 arrives --
their truck broke down coming up the steep road and
they had to walk the rest of the way....

Marianna, Conrad
Josh F., Bruno

Josh!! Don't jump!!

Group pic -- almost!! Sorry Katie and Gabrielle!

Hiking to second falls -- lush undergrowth

Exploring the falls

Bowl of soup for supper

Bruno and Gabriel were our DJs /Entertainers for the trip home.